Haemophilus influenzae infections reach record high in Europe

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has reported that cases of Haemophilus influenzae, a serious bacterial infection, reached their highest level since surveillance began in 1996. In 2024, 5,856 confirmed cases were recorded across 30 EU and EEA countries, an increase from 5,520 in 2023 and 4,002 in 2022. This represents an 85% increase compared to 2018 levels.

Haemophilus influenzae is a bacterium transmitted through respiratory droplets. It can cause severe conditions, including pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis, particularly affecting infants and the elderly. The current upward trend follows a period of low incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was attributed to social distancing and other respiratory infection control measures.

In Greece, the number of confirmed cases decreased in 2024, with 7 reported cases compared to 17 in 2023. The incidence rate in Greece fell from 0.2 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023 to 0.1 per 100,000 in 2024.